On July 4, 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials Sunita Dhir at DIVERSEcity Surrey Community Campus. She shared insights and information about the International Credentials Recognition Act, and leaned into heartfelt conversation about the difficulties newcomers, particularly women, face when having to navigate the credential recognition process in Canada.
She was welcomed by DIVERSEcity’s Director of Language, Employment and Social Entrepreneurship, Vandna Joshi, and Senior Manager of Employment Services, Alison Ireland — alongside clients who shared the challenges they’ve faced, and help they’ve received, participating in DIVERSEcity programs.
One woman expressed her struggles saying, “sometimes it costs over $40,000 to get all the credentials you need. On top of having to maintain my household and look after my family — it can be a lot.”
After listening with compassion and empathy, Mrs. Dhir said, “all I see is hope, resilience and hard work in front of me … I know how difficult it is to survive as an immigrant, I was once there also.” She went on to say, “for too long it’s been challenging for newcomers to find a job that utilizes their education and experience, that’s why the government brought in the International Credentials Recognition Act.”
Despite the stress and frustrations, hope was the theme of the afternoon.
One woman from Brazil shared how she received a grant from DIVERSEcity’s Coast Capital Credentialing Program for Newcomer Women for $2,000, which helped pay her credentialing costs.
“The grant was my hope. My light at the end of the tunnel. I can keep going now,” she says.
You can learn more about our credentialing program here.
